The highly coveted 1-of-1 NBA debut patch rookie card featuring Dallas Mavericks player Cooper Flagg, signed by the player himself, is heading to auction. Jason Williams, a 50-year-old collector from South Carolina, acquired the rare card through a box break event earlier this month and has now decided to list it for sale.
Bidding on the card will commence on Fanatics Collect starting September 10. Kevin Lenane, Vice President of Marketplace at Fanatics Collect, expressed enthusiasm for hosting the auction, noting that the card has been a significant point of anticipation within the collecting community for the entire year. "It's one of those things that if you're in the collecting world, everyone's been waiting for all year," Lenane told The Post.
Williams purchased his entry into the box break from RhodyBreakers for $515 on August 10. He described an emotional reaction upon realizing he had obtained the Flagg card, stating he "cried like a baby" due to the magnitude of the discovery. The card features the patch Flagg wore during his first NBA game and includes his autograph. It has since received a perfect PSA 10 grade for both the card and the signature.
Demand for the card has been exceptionally high since Flagg, who averaged 21 points per game in his rookie season with the Mavericks, authenticated it in July. The Dallas Mavericks reportedly made a substantial offer for the card, which included 32 years of season tickets, a meet-and-greet, and additional signed memorabilia. Separately, an auction on the platform Alt saw bids exceed $3 million.
Initially, Williams considered holding onto the card, but he ultimately chose to work with Fanatics Collect after developing a relationship with the organization. Lenane declined to speculate on the final sale price but characterized the item as "the most exciting basketball rookie in a long, long time."
Bidding for the Cooper Flagg rookie card is scheduled to conclude on September 24.